Cabalen confident, SIP pooh-poohs chances

Cabalen-RP Construction/Transamerica is predicting no less than a sweep, while SIP-Flor A. Miranda seems to be just happy to be back in the finals after a two-year absence.

These appear to be the mood of the two protagonists in the Budweiser-Coca 6th Annual UFO Inter-Organizational Basketball League best-of-three championship series, which is set to start at 7:30pm tonight at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Cabalen playing coach Elmer Pineda, for one, said at the rate his boys are playing right now it’s not too far-fetched to see Cabalen hoisting the 2005-2006 championship trophy after just two games.

He, however, quickly retreated from his prediction of a sweep and said that everything would boil down to what team executes better during the game.

Pineda said if his players stick to his game plan—trap on defense and dominate the rebounding war—then Cabalen would wrap up the series in two games.

The Hotel Nikko Saipan employee said he plans to negate SIP’s advantage in quickness by adopting a slow-breaking style of play to take advantage of Cabalen’s overwhelming advantage in the inside.

Pineda said he would like his point guards—Randy Arnedo and Ed Palma—to pass the ball first to their big men—forwards Eric Dalangin and Ronald Delos Reyes, and center Dalewin Cortez—in every play.

If they are double or triple-teamed, he would like their big men then to throw the ball back to the outside for uncontested shots by sharpshooters Palma and Sonny Ranola or a dribble drive by the shifty Arnedo.

He said his two big concerns about SIP are the Mutt-and-Jeff combination of center Edsel Mendoza and Elmer Esdrelon.

He said Esdrelon brings the ball down well, knows how to pass, and can also score, while Mendoza is fresh coming into the finals after playing sparingly in the elimination and playoff rounds.

While Jason Amado’s loss is big for SIP, Pineda said the return of veteran playmaker Rick Alegre would cushion the blow somewhat for them. He plans to contain Alegre by having Palma and Ranola guard him.

SIP coach Rufino Aguon, for his part, doesn’t mind and even relishes his team being tagged the underdogs of this year’s UFO championship.

When asked what SIP’s chances are in upsetting Cabalen, Aguon was a bit playful and said, “No chance at all (laughs). No seriously, they are a good team, not to mention big. It’s like going against Goliath.”

He said in order for SIP to return to the promise land (The team won the first three championships of the UFO, 2000-2002) everyone must contribute.

“Everyone on the team is expected to contribute one way or the other. That is our strength. We will be ready, the loss of Jason is a big blow but again we are a team and we will find and do what it takes to be competitive,” he said.

Aguon also said Alegre would be ready to play and lead the team after not playing competitive basketball for several months and that Mendoza’s injury woes are all behind him and he just wants to help the team, which he more than did last time out with a 39-point, 13-rebound effort in SIP’s seminal win against LIPS-Mobil last Sunday.

He admitted that Cabalen is a formidable opponent because of their stratospheric frontline and experienced ball-handlers, but said that SIP is out to give them a good fight.

“I do not know if we can contain their height advantage but if we can keep them of balance then we have a chance,” he said. “The fans should expect nothing less an exciting, entertaining, and competitive finals series between SIP and Cabalen. That’s a promise!”

The game between SIP and Cabalen will be preceded by the battle for third place between dethroned two-time champion Visminda-Nel Atalig and LIPS-Mobil at 6pm.

In related news, UFO president Roland Pamintuan said the organization would be charging a $1 entrance fee this weekend. He said proceeds would go to victims of the landslide in St. Bernard, Leyte in the Philippines.